NEWSWORTHY
All aboard: Exploring Japan's abandoned train lines
Admiring the decaying beauty of abandoned railroads is just one of myriad hobbies Japan's railway enthusiasts indulge in. But fueled by a broadening appreciation for the subculture and growth in train travelers, these rusty remnants of industrialization are gathering new steam as tourist attractions while ...
Early peaking of Japan's cherry blossoms laid to warmer March, climate change
The early peaking of the cherry blossoms in many parts of the country this spring was likely caused by higher temperatures in March and global warming, the Metrological Agency said. A Somei-Yoshino cherry tree is considered to be in full bloom when about 80 percent ...
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visits Toyota's EV parts factory in Hokkaido
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visited Toyota Motor Corp.'s electric-vehicle parts factory in Hokkaido on Friday, as the government of the world's second-biggest economy looks to promote eco-friendly EVs to curb air pollution. Li was briefed by Toyota officials about the automaker's e-Palette autonomous driving EV ...
In the countryside, success starts with coffee: Niseko pioneer
The thriving Hokkaido ski resort of Niseko is considered an anomaly among the many rural communities in Japan facing a slow demise from the shrinking and graying population. But that was not always the case, says Australian Ross Findlay, a pioneer of the area's outdoor ...
Beat the heat with summer sports in Niseko
With a pantheon of outdoor sports such as mountain biking, ziplining, hiking and more, the summer season in Hokkaido's Niseko is increasingly switched on.
Fly-fishing in the remote reaches of Hokkaido
Akan National Park is renowned for some of the best fly-fishing in all Japan, and anglers can expect plentiful, seasonal catch.
Hokkaido test site outshining other carbon-capture options in race to reduce emissions
A test site in Japan for burying carbon dioxide (CO2) below the seabed off Hokkaido is showing more promise than other carbon, capture and storage (CCS) projects by cutting costs and increasing efficiency, its developer says. While the $300 million (about ¥32 billion) site at ...
Chinese premier likely to visit Hokkaido after attending May trilateral summit in Tokyo
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is expected to visit Hokkaido after attending a trilateral summit in Tokyo with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts early next month, diplomatic sources said Saturday. Li, who was reappointed to a second five-year term as China's head of government last ...
Three Taiwanese women have been arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle about ¥50 million ($470,000) worth of gold into Japan through their bras, the police said Monday. Each woman had two bowl-shaped pieces of gold hidden in pockets attached to their bras, the police said. The ...
Canoeing with a twist on Hokkaido's volcanic Lake Kussharo
To experience the best of canoeing in Japan, many choose Hokkaido for its wide-open spaces and relatively easy access to wilderness. Hokkaido boasts six national parks, 12 prefectural parks, and countless wetlands and undisturbed forests. Lake Kussharo is in Akan National Park and is ...
As the Seikan Tunnel — a rail link between Honshu and Hokkaido — marked the 30th anniversary of its opening on Tuesday, better coexistence between shinkansen services and freight traffic remains a key challenge. At 53.85 km, the world's longest undersea tunnel connects the northern ...
Curling charms flying off shelves at shrine in Olympic bronze medalists' hometown
Miniature curling stone charms have become a sold-out success at a shrine in the hometown of the Japanese women's curling team which won bronze at the recent Pyeongchang Olympics. In addition to being sold, the charms were given to the women who play for the ...
